How To Dye Your Hair

November 7, 2013chris Guides

Here at Blue Banana we know how much you all love to dye your amazing colours. From bright lipstick reds and luminous pinks to bubblegum blue and even hardcore black, dyed hair is a great way to create a unique look and let your personality shine through vibrant colours.

Dyeing your hair without the help of a professional hairdresser can be really difficult though, and one of the questions we get asked most is how to actually colour your hair in the first place. Well, we’ve heard what you’ve all been saying and we’ve come up with this handy guide on how to dye your hair. So, if you’ve been putting off changing your hair colour to something bright, quirky or beautiful then fear not, because we’re here to teach you everything we know so you can achieve that bold alternative look!

What You Need:

Hair Dye

Bleach / Lightening Product

Hair Dye Friendly Conditioner & Shampoo

Old T Shirt & Towels

Rubber Gloves

Tint Brush

Hair Comb

Step 1: Prepare Your Hair!

Coloured Hair Is A Great Way To Enhance Your Look

Before dyeing your hair it needs to be in the ideal condition to achieve the best results. Wash your hair at least 24 hours before dying, without using conditioner. This is to allow natural hair oils to build up which helps the dye work more effectively. The next step is to choose a colour you’re happy with, making sure it’s one that suits your complexion and style. Finally, create a safe environment in which to use the dye, covering up any space that might get stained, and wrap an old towel you don’t mind ruining around your neck and over your back and shoulders. Use a small amount of vaseline or lip balm to cover your ears, which will help protect your skin from dye.

Step 2: Mix Your Dye

It’s highly recommended to follow the instructions on the box or tub of hair dye, but most hair dye works in a similar fashion. Use an old mixing bowl, add the desired amount of colour, using extra if you have particularly long hair. Next, add hair dye developer, if required, which will often come with the dye or can be bought separately. Mix all together with a tinting brush or paint brush. You can make the shade of the colour more or less concentrated by controlling the amount of developer you use, or by adding a neutral colour to the mix such as white. This works well to create a pastel hair effect. Remember, always use gloves when handling dye because it WILL stain your skin!

Step 3: Apply A Test

Before just slathering the dye on all over your hair, it’s best to do a little test first to ensure the dye works and that it actually suits you. This is done by doing a strand test. Select a small portion of your hair, preferably hair that tucks behind the ear so you can hide your shame if it goes wrong and so you can see it against your skin. Apply the dye with your tint brush to about half an inch of hair. Allow the dye to dry for half the recommended time on the colour dye packaging.

Once dry, see if you like the hair colour. If it’s too light, add more colour to the mix, if its too dark then use less next time or add more white dye. If you don’t like it then no harm has been done, which is why it’s very important to test beforehand. Testing is also vital to see if you have any kind of allergic reaction to the dye on your skin.

Step 4: Time To Dye

Once you’ve tested the colour, you’re good to go. Use a hair comb to create sections of hair and separate them out. This will make it easier to dye and help you keep tabs on where needs to be done so your whole head is coloured. Using sections will also help if you plan to use multiple colours. Check the label of the dye first to see whether it needs to be damp before applying colour. Apply your dye with the tint brush liberally, starting from the roots and working downwards. Work upwards too from the nape of your neck to colour the underside of your hair. Keep using colour until your hair is literally saturated with dye and becomes ‘frothy’, and by working through the sections you should get total coverage.

Once coloured, leave the dye for the recommended time on the packaging to dry. Do not leave dye on for longer than the advised time as this may cause nasty dry hair. It should be noted however that if you’re using a natural ingredient hair dye you may have to leave hair dye on overnight.

Step 5: Aftercare

Once the allotted time for leaving the dye is up, wipe away dye from exposed skin without disturbing the coloured hair. The next step is to wash away the excess dye and this can be done in the shower or sink with cool water. Keep rinsing until the water is clear when it runs off your head letting you know all the excess is gone. The next step is to use hair dye friendly conditioner, but do not wash your hair until at least 24 hours have passed to ensure the dye is most effective. Use the conditioner every day for several weeks to ensure your hair doesn’t dry out. Within the first few days of having your coloured hair, let it dry naturally when wet and avoid harsh sunlight to ensure the dye is at its most effective and the process isn’t disturbed.

Extra Tips

Apply a touch up six weeks after dyeing, using the same process but only using the dye at the roots and then distributing it evenly and in small amounts from the roots with a brush through the hair.

If you naturally have darker hair, bleach your hair light blonde or white before using colours. This will ensure you get the colour effect you want exactly how it looks on the packaging.

Get help from family or friends, preferably someone who has experience of dyeing hair, for the first few times colouring.

Use colour protecting shampoo to maintain the colour of your dyed hair.

Should you feel a harsh itching sensation or burning on your scalp at any time during the dyeing process then stop immediately and consult a doctor.

So now you know how to dye your hair, check out our great selection of colour hair dyes we sell here at Blue Banana! We have a huge range of dyes from classic brands like Manic Panic,La Riche and Stargazer, plus essential accessories you’ll need for dyeing such as a tint brush and gloves. So don’t hesitate, reinvent your hair color right away!

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 7th, 2013 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Guides.
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